As allegations surfaced this week that three missing women had been held against their will for 10 years in the Cleveland home of Ariel Castro, some very perceptive readers have pointed out a strange detail in photographs of Castro's house: A Puerto Rican flag that was flying from Castro's front porch on Monday appeared later to have been replaced with an American flag.
Was the Puerto Rican flag swapped for an American one?
The Huffington Post called the FBI's Cleveland office, and a representative flatly denied it, saying the crime scene had been under 24-hour lockdown. A representative from the Cleveland Police Department told HuffPost the department did not know who removed the flag.
However, two of the photographers responsible for some of the photos in question -- the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Scott Shaw and Getty Images' Bill Pugliano -- told HuffPost over the phone Thursday that they thought there might actually be two flags flying side by side, very close together.
Closer inspection of some of the pictures, like this one, appears to substantiate those statements. (See below for more photos of the two flags.)
However, photos from later in the week show no flag at all. Did someone remove the flags, and if so, why?
Nevertheless, members of Cleveland's Puerto Rican community have expressed unease that a Puerto Rican flag was flying from Castro's porch, some of them going so far as to say that they wanted to remove it.
Cleveland Police Chief Hector Pesquera, who is Puerto Rican, told WKAQ he was so upset by the discovery of the women in Castro's home that he "would have personally removed" the island's flag from the porch.
Arielle Rios, a Puerto Rican from Cleveland, wrote for ABC News: "I could not help but notice the swaying Puerto Rican flag on the porch pillar. My father Manuel's initial reaction was that this would bring a lot of shame to the community."
We will update this post if new information becomes available. Until then, let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.
Castro's Puerto Rican Flag
Puerto Rican flag flies on Monday(01 of09)
Open Image ModalA photo by the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Scott Shaw shows a Puerto Rican flag flying from Castro's porch. There appears to be an American flag behind it. (credit:Scott Shaw)
Early Tuesday morning - Puerto Rican flag(02 of09)
Open Image ModalA photo taken early Tuesday morning shows a Puerto Rican flag flying from Castro's porch. (credit:Getty Images, Bill Pugliano)
Tuesday morning, American flag(03 of09)
Open Image ModalA photo taken early Tuesday morning shows an American flag hanging from Castro's porch. There's no sign of the Puerto Rican flag. (credit:Getty Images/ Bill Pugliano)
Two flags, side by side?(04 of09)
Open Image ModalA photo taken early Tuesday morning appears to show an American flag hanging side by side with a Puerto Rican flag. (credit:Getty Images/Bill Pugliano)
American flag - Tuesday(05 of09)
Open Image ModalA photo taken Tuesday shows an American flag and also appears to show a Puerto Rican flag behind it. (credit:Associated Press/Scott Dejak)
American flag, possibly with Puerto Rican flag - Tuesday(06 of09)
Open Image ModalA photo taken Tuesday shows an American flag, possibly with a Puerto Rican flag beside it. (credit:Associated Press/Tony Dejak)
Tuesday - flag unclear(07 of09)
Open Image ModalA photo taken Tuesday of Ariel Castro's Cleveland home. The type of flag is unclear. (credit:Associated Press/Tony Dejak)
Thursday - flags removed?(08 of09)
Open Image ModalA photo taken Thursday appears to show that the flags have been removed. (credit:Associated Press/David Duprey)
Thursday - no flags?(09 of09)
Open Image ModalAnother photo from Thursday shows no flag on Castro's porch. (credit:Associated Press/David Duprey)
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
